Barcelona beaches will not be open for sunbathing after council U-turn
People will be able to stroll on beaches but not lay on the sand
People will be able to stroll on beaches but not lay on the sand
Currently the Catalan capital’s beaches are only open for people to exercise
Citizens returned in small numbers to jog, swim, and paddle surf for the first time since the state of alarm was declared
People will be able to exercise and swim between 6-10 while evening hours are reserved for professional sportspeople
Barcelona may also grant access to shore soon "depending on how the next days unfold"
Navy specialists determine that object that local police previously thought could be a projectile is actually an old metal tube
Parts of Barcelona beach were closed and evacuated on Wednesday as an object thought to have been a Civil War bomb was found
In August, authorities detonated a highly volatile bomb dating back to 1936 under the sea
Latest report by Resonance Consultancy praises Catalan capital as "almost ideal European city"
Line-up of summer event also include Axwell & Ingrosso and Don Diablo
On Wednesday morning, Barcelona’s beaches were well and truly in pre-summer mode, with hundreds of people sunbathing or playing in the sand, although few dared to swim as the water is still a bit cold. The temperature was almost 30 degrees (ºC), but some thin cloud cover and a sea breeze allowed people to enjoy and relax without suffering from the heat too much. Younger and older people, as well as families on holidays were the ones profiting the most from the situation. Surprised by the heat wave, many came to the beach without swimwear but managed to take refuge under parasols or in the shade of nearby bar terraces. In recent days, the rising temperatures have reached almost summer levels, allowing people with free time to enjoy the beach more than usual, although the season officially started in late March. Overall, the Catalan capital has 9 beaches that stretch for a total of some 5 km.
The police have started an initiative to crack down on illegal services on Barcelona’s beaches, visited by 3.5 million people last summer. Between June and July, the police have dealt with nearly 4,500 complaints concerning street vendors, 93% more than in 2011. The operations have a dedicated unit of 70 officers to enforce the regulations on the beaches, working both in uniform and in plain clothes.
Escaping city life in a metropolitan area the size of Barcelona is easy thanks to the beaches, which were the result of a profound urban reform. 4,5 kilometres of nature, open to the sea, the are the biggest recreational area in Barcelona. Despite an ongoing controversy over the illegality of certain vendors found on the beach, the space remains a popular get-away for locals and tourists alike.